49ers legends top All-Stars 45-40

SAN FRANCISCO -- In the middle of the boisterous celebration, as players from every corner of the 49ers dynasty shouted his name and slapped his back, Eddie DeBartolo had tears in his eyes.

That's about the time Joe Montana broke the tension with a hug and a sentence never previously uttered by a quarterback nicknamed Joe Cool: "Trust me. I was as nervous as you were."

The source of their joy and tears and butterflies was Montana's carefully scripted game-winning touchdown pass at the "Legends of Candlestick" flag football game Saturday night. This was the final football event at the 49ers' longtime home, and Montana had secretly picked his ideal person to score the final TD at the 'Stick.

Joe Montana slaps hands with teammates as he takes the field before the Legends of Candlestick flag football game featuring former San Francisco 49ers stars and former NFL stars at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 12, 2014. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)
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Jim Gensheimer
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It wasn't Jerry Rice or Dwight Clark or John Taylor or any of the others Montana had found for previous last-minute magic.

It was DeBartolo, who bought the team in 1977 and turned the franchise from a punch line to a five-time Super Bowl winner.

So with the clock winding down and the 49ers needing a touchdown, DeBartolo sneaked onto the field for the final play. Montana launched a pretty little 2-yard floater that fell as softly as a dropped tissue. All the 67-year-old businessman had to do was catch it.

As it turns out, Eddie D had an edge. He was wearing Rice's gloves. DeBartolo caught the ball basket-catch style as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

Final score 49ers 45, All-Stars 40.

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The 49ers players swarmed their former owner and carried him off on their shoulders as a crowd of about 30,000 chanted "Ed-die! Ed-die! Ed-die!" When the players set down DeBartolo, he held aloft the game ball and thanked the players for the gesture.

Then DeBartolo grabbed the microphone and told the crowd: "It was an honor being your owner. But it was an even bigger honor to be your friend."

And, with that, Candlestick said good night.

"A great old stadium,'' Montana said, not trying that hard to keep a straight face. The he added, with seriousness: "There are a lot of great memories here."

Although the final play was scripted, the rest of the night had at least a whiff of competitive spirit. The team of NFL All-Stars, led by quarterback Dan Marino and a big night from former Raiders receiver Tim Brown, kept the action close. They led 27-17 late in the second half.

But neither side took it that seriously, either. There were times when punter Barry Helton lined up as a receiver and receiver Isaac Bruce lined up as a defensive back (he even had an interception). Everson Walls, the former Cowboys defensive back immortalized as the closest defender to Clark during "The Catch," celebrated with extra gusto when he brilliantly broke up a pass intended for Helton late in the game.

On one late-game play, the 49ers paid homage to their glittering quarterback history by designing a play in which three notable QBs touched the ball: Montana took the snap and threw a lateral to Young, who sent the ball back to Montana, who hit Jeff Garcia for a short gain.

In the end, though, it was all about DeBartolo, and the players figuring out the best way to thank him for what he did. "Joe Montana's idea! Joe Montana's idea!" Roger Craig kept shouting as he ran off the field.

When DeBartolo bought the 49ers, he immediately invested enthusiastically in an attempt to upgrade the front office, the coaching staff and the on-field talent.

It did not start well. Late in that first season, as the 49ers were spiraling toward a 5-9 finish, a fan fired a half-full beer can at DeBartolo's head. "At least you could have drank it first," DeBartolo snapped.

It ended just fine.

"This is for you," DeBartolo said Saturday, holding the game ball aloft under the stadium lights. "I love you guys."